First look at Southmead Hospital makes big impression
WITH a ceiling as high as the roof of Westminster Abbey the space is certainly vast.
Stretching 918ft (280m) in length the concourse inside the new Southmead Hospital is filled with light from the glass roof panels 101ft (31m) above.
These are the first photographs that show the atrium of the £430 million building which makes up the main thoroughfare at the centre of the new hospital.
The hospital is due to open in the spring of 2014, bringing most services from Frenchay and Southmead hospitals together under one roof for the first time.
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Most of the structure is now complete and much of the work is focusing on fitting out the inside of the hospital. Work has also started on the main entrance to the new hospital to prepare for the glass to be fitted.
The hospital building is made up of clinical areas on one side and towers with inpatient rooms on the other. The long concourse is the main public area of the hospital that patients and visitors will walk through to reach the relevant department. Glass panels on one side of the concourse feature different colours, changing from green, to blue to red to help people find their way.
While construction work is carried out the North Bristol NHS Trust team is focusing on preparing staff for the move into the new building.
They have recruited 150 leaders from within the trust ahead of the big move, to take charge of the planning within their own departments to ensure everything that needs to be transferred to the building moves safely.
Tricia Down, deputy director of projects at the trust, said: "We have had a really good response from the team, which is important because we are a small project team but do not know everything about every service but we know people within the service do."
She said that trust policies are also being considered ahead of the move to the new hospital, including changes to infection control with the move to mainly single patient rooms and the policy for annual leave in the lead-up to the move.
Departments are also being encouraged to carry out spring cleaning ahead of the move.
"The whole hospital is going to be doing that," Ms Down said.
"Skips and porters will be brought in and every department has got scheduled time for doing spring cleans so they do not move across things they do not need into the new hospital."
As well as preparing for the move into the new hospital, voting continues on whether it should also be given a new name. A shortlist of six has been drawn up and the trust will consider the views of the public.
To vote visit www.nbt.nhs.uk/ new-hospital/hospital/you-name-it.
5 Comments
by katachua
Thursday, January 31 2013, 3:23PM
“Southmead is very much more convenient for me, but I can see the posters' point.
There should at least have been some attempt to improve the transport infrastructure.”
by harryreg_uk
Wednesday, January 30 2013, 11:53AM
“The difficult access to Southmead compared to Frenchay WILL cost lives - everybody knows it, even the idiots that made the decision to cash-in on Frenchay's valuable land
somethings should not be for sale!!!!!!”
by LydneyBob
Wednesday, January 30 2013, 11:06AM
“They should name Southmead Hospital after the first person who passes away whilst stuck in a jam on route in Southmead Road. The same person who probably would have survived if taken to A&E at Frenchay.”
by Shas_J
Wednesday, January 30 2013, 9:30AM
“Agreed with LydneyBob.
Yes the land mass at Southmead is greater but the road infrastructure is not there - it is round Frenchay with the ringroad and motorways. Sadly I can see the figures rising of those not making it to hospital to save their lives ...
RIP Frenchay :(”
by LydneyBob
Wednesday, January 30 2013, 8:49AM
“It should have been built at Frenchay which has much easier access and is far less congested.
The Paramedics will no doubt, have to work extra hard to get A%E and other patients across Southmead Road.”